Vilnius is the largest city in Lithuania and the capital of the state. The restless history of the city is like the indomitability of its people. For centuries, the city was plundered and devastated as a result of many wars. Now Vilnius is one of the centers of the Baltic States. The richness of Vilnius' culture is evidenced by the diversity of its architecture: churches and towers, secluded medieval courtyards and narrow streets.
The city is located in the southeast of the country, in the valleys of 2 rivers - Nyaris and Vilia. In 1323, Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania moved his residence from Trakai here. From that moment, the history of the city as the capital begins. By the 16th century, Vilnius has become a major trade and cultural center of Europe. After the third partition of Poland, the city was annexed to the Russian Empire as the center of the Vilnius province. He remained in this capacity until 1918. Since March 11, 1990, Vilnius has been the capital of an independent Republic of Lithuania.
Vilnius is the northern point of contact between Roman and Byzantine, European and Asian cultures. The rich history of Vilnius is evidenced by the diversity of its architecture: churches, churches, towers, military fortifications, secluded medieval courtyards and narrow streets.
Among the oldest monuments of Gothic architecture are the castle ensemble, and the church of St. Anna is a Gothic masterpiece. The influence of the Renaissance in the city was short-lived, but still left several bright monuments of this style: the Aushros Gate in the city wall, the Church of St. Michael and several courtyards of the University founded in 1579, one of the oldest in Europe.
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul (17th century) is the pearl of Baroque architecture in Vilnius. Its interior is decorated with about 2,000 statues of biblical, mythological and historical heroes.
By the end of the XVIII century, classicism had blossomed in Vilnius, leaving the city hall, Värkai Palace and the Cathedral. Laurinas Stuoka-Gucevicius, an outstanding Lithuanian architect, created the modern appearance of the Cathedral, and when you enter it, you understand how right he was, believing that the beauty of the building is determined not by decorations, but by the harmony of its parts and whole.
The most significant monument in Vilnius - the Old Town, which occupies 269 hectares of area and is one of the largest in Europe, has been declared a cultural monument of world importance by UNESCO.
The symbol of the city is the Gyadiminas Tower. On the tower there is an observation deck, which offers a wide panorama of the city with the towers of ancient churches, the basilica of the cathedral.
There are several hundred cafes, bars, restaurants, discos in the city, various carnivals, festivals, theatrical performances are constantly held. The city has many museums, exhibition halls: Artillery Bastion (exposition of ancient weapons), Center for Contemporary Art, National Museum, National Gallery, Radziwill Palace, Amber Museum, and others. There are ten theaters and 6 concert halls in the city.